Met Eireann has updated its weather warnings, with several kicking in over the coming days.
Ireland is gripped by a bone-chilling Arctic blast, with severe frost, ice, freezing fog and wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow all forecast.
There is no end in sight to the freezing weather, with the national forecaster predicting “the very cold weather will continue into next weekend.”
READ MORE: Met Eireann Ireland cold weather timeline as rare triple warning issued amid brutal -6C blast
A Status Yellow snow warning has been issued for Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow and is in place from 11pm tonight until noon Sunday. It reads: “Snow showers will lead to accumulations in places, most substantial over high ground.”
It comes on top of nationwide Status Yellow warnings for freezing fog, low temperatures and ice that are currently in place and also last until noon on Sunday. The alerts read: “Pockets of freezing fog are expected, causing potentially hazardous travel conditions. A sharp frost and further icy stretches will set in on Saturday night as temperatures dip to -5C in places.”
Meanwhile a Status Orange warning - Met Eireann’s second highest - for low temperatures and ice has been issued for tomorrow. It kicks in at 5pm Sunday and lasts until noon on Monday. The alert reads: “A severe frost and further icy stretches will set in on Sunday night, accompanied by patches of freezing fog. Temperatures likely to fall below -5Cin many areas.”
It comes as a Met Eireann weather map shows temperatures as low as -10C on Monday morning.
Explaining how its modelling works, the meteorological service said: “The temperature is direct model output from Numerical Weather Prediction models but is a guideline only. It forecasts air temperature on land and over sea in C for the top of each hour, 3 hourly and finally 6 hourly intervals up to 7 days. This service is based on data and products of the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).”
Meanwhile, giving its forecast for the rest of today, the meteorological service said: "Staying very cold today with some lingering patches of frost, ice and freezing fog. Many areas will remain dry and bright through the day, although occasional wintry showers will push in to Atlantic coastal areas, mainly falling as rain or sleet. Highest temperatures of 1C to 5C in light westerly or variable breezes.
" Very cold tonight with a widespread sharp to severe frost and with ice on roads and paths. Most areas will stay dry, although there will be a few further wintry showers, some falling as snow, with accumulations possible in the east. There will be patches of freezing fog in many areas also. Lowest temperatures of -6C to -1C in light northerly or variable breezes."
Looking ahead to tomorrow, it continued: "Sunday will be another very cold day with temperatures of just 0C to 3C. Frost and fog may linger in some places all day. It will be mainly dry with some sunshine. However, some further wintry showers will affect eastern coastal counties. Winds will be light northerly or variable.
"Sunday night will be dry in most areas. However, wintry showers will affect coastal areas of Leinster early in the night and will also develop in northern and western counties overnight. Patches of freezing fog will develop inland. It will be very cold with a widespread severe frost and widespread frost and ice. Lowest temperatures of -6C to -1C."
For next week, Met Eireann's forecast reads: "Monday will continue very cold with temperatures staying below freezing in many areas. Frost, ice and fog will persist through the day. Many areas will be dry with wintry showers mainly affecting coastal counties, especially in the east. Light easterly breezes.
"Monday night will be another very cold night with widespread frost, ice and patches of freezing fog and with lowest temperatures of -6C to -2Cs. Most areas dry, but some wintry showers in coastal areas.
"Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will see very similar conditions as the cold spells continues. Many areas will be dry, but there will be some wintry showers at times, mainly on north and east facing coasts. Daytime temperatures will be close to zero and the nights will be very cold with severe frosts, ice and patches of freezing fog. Winds will be light and variable in direction.
"Current indications suggest that the very cold weather will continue on Friday and into next weekend."
READ NEXT:
- Triple child killer mum Deirdre Morley applies for release after three years as dad Andrew McGinley reacts
- Inside East Wall refugee centre as asylum seekers want to join protests and say rooms are like 'cage for animals'
- Mr Flashy ally gun attack gang 'won't stop until they kill their targets'
- '20 of us sleep together for warmth': The homeless people freezing on Ireland's streets during cold snap
- TikTok removes Leo Varadkar nightclub video
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
